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The final AJ of the year looks back at the past 12 months and forward to the year ahead. We review 2018’s key architectural events and trends and preview the stories set to dominate the new year. We also pick out the people to watch in 2019 and highlight eight key buildings set to complete. And to make sure you’ve been paying attention, there’s a Christmas quiz on the events that shook the architectural world in 2018 and a chance to play spot the building. PLUS a building study of Karakusevic ..

Don't be blinded by signature architects

Last week you published an extract from my letter which drew attention to the poor quality of Frank Gehry's proposals for the seafront at Hove.

I was disappointed by the way in which the letter was edited for it completely cut out two crucial points. First, it noted the power of star architects to cause people to suspend their critical faculties, as illustrated by Deyan Sudjic's over-the-top report 'Hove springs eternal' (The Observer, 11.5.03).

In addition, my letter acknowledged that the Bilbao Guggenheim is a great building and that its effects on that city are remarkable, but made a plea that people should not be fooled into thinking that Hove could buy the 'Bilbao effect' off the shelf. In fact, the Gehry proposals appear to be merely a cynical and poorly executed attempt to get a hugely overscaled development through planning by dressing them in the garb of a signature architect.

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